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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 6:41 pm
The silence lingered on for some time. But, there was only so much Riley could glean from watching her, so finally, her voice entered Sinclaire's mind very slowly. Very quietly.
What has been done to me?
It was a strange greeting, but the vain hope that perhaps the woman in charge would simply.. give her all the answers, was worth a shot. As long as said shot might be.
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 1:38 am
The succubus took her time to finish what she was writing and then finally acknowledged the ghoul and her question with a wry smile. "Well," she began slowly, "...the answer to that question depends on the time frame you're referring to. If you just want to know I've done to you, that's easy enough." The smile widened, and Sinclaire continued modestly, "I saved your existence."
In the lobby, the twins stared and one picked clicked the intercom while the other opened a drawer and plucked out several forms, their entirety covered in very small print.
"Sir, there's a boil asking about Vek and Prinny's charge. Mmmmhmmm. Right. Uh-huh.....well........"
"I just need you to sign here, here, date here, print here, sign here, pin here, FEAR print there, sign here, date here......"
Before venturing to find his lady fair, brave Sir Maladore would first have to face Trial by Paperwork.
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 2:09 am
Riley did not like the idea that this woman felt like she owed her anything. The facts, however, were simple. Riley was not alive, and then..
Then.. this woman had come along, and changed that.
But the method through which she had done so was unforgivable, and erased any such debt for Riley to owe. The woman would still have to die.
Who are you to tamper with my existence, then? It was a safe question, as she slowly slid into the role of inquisitor. What am I to you? Why bother?
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 3:20 am
Placing her clipboard down, Sinclaire rested her elbows on her knees and just looked at the should for awhile. Finally she explained, "I'm Agent Sinclaire, and you...you're a stepping stone." Her lips quirked, "Though perhaps you wouldn't appreciate that particular analogy. You were the first one whose form remained intact after Insanity reached saturation point. I brought you back to see if it could be done, and collect data on Insanity for those of us seeking to cure and prevent it."
Lifting her eyebrows, the succubus leaned forward, "In short, you were useful."
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 4:37 pm
Malodore's gaze narrowed slightly behind the lenses, but it nodded and hunched over the paperwork, producing its magnifier from one sleeve to assist it in reading the fine print... Along with a penstrictor for the many signatures required. Even if this resulted in nothing, it still had to try...
It went on for quite some time, reading, squinting. "And if I sign and mark everything as requested, what is the result? Tell me plainly, if you would - I am familiar with the ways of demons and contracts." It attempted to fix the twins with a firm look.
((OOC: Just looking for the gist of the documents text, lol. OOC explanation is fine!))
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Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 7:10 pm
There was something deeply fulfilling about being useful. Riley couldn't exactly place why she cared, but she knew that she did. She was the first, the one that broke the mold; or more accurately, the one who didn't break it. She was a scientific breakthrough.
Somebody would be so proud of her.
She just. She couldn't place exactly who.
Regardless, Sinclaire's label in her mind shifted. She still wanted to kill the woman, but she knew the information her own agonizing recovery had created was stored in that little, feeble brain of the succubus. She needed to live.. for a little while.
All right. Riley accepted the answer, with a surprising amount of calm. If this is so, then what lies next for me? She tensed. More experimentation? They weren't planning on putting her back, were they? She would slay every living creature in the facility if they even tried..
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Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:27 am
Pausing in their work, the twins looked at each other and then stared at the plague doctor, eyebrows raised high.
"Oh skully, you don't have to worry about demons..."
"...just lawyers."
"So be sure to toe the line..."
"...do as you're told..."
"...don't break anything..."
"...don't take anything..."
"...try not to make unfunny jokes..."
"...or clog a toilet..."
"...or have an obnoxious ring tone..."
"...or forget to wash your hands before leaving the bathroom..."
"...or..."
This went on for quite some time.
Meanwhile, Sinclaire went quiet for some time, measuring her answer. How much she was willing to say, and how kind she would be in her answer. "Yes," she finally replied, with fairly open honesty, "it will be some time until you're well enough to perform an invasive testing, but that doesn't mean it won't continue, or that it won't be unpleasant. However, I do plan to keep you whole, and those in this facility..." she paused, considering, before correcting herself, "most of those here will try to keep you from returning to your former state or worse."
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Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 12:09 pm
Malodore's gaze got narrower and narrower, though it wasn't like anyone could tell, what with the lenses in the way and all. But it was clear that it would have to follow their rules in order to get any additional information... "Va bene," it said, once the twins were done with their little sentence fragment party.
The plague doctor began following the instructions, signing and providing its emblem where requested, though it actually read the fine print carefully before performing each action.
It did, indeed, go on for quite some time, moving slowly through the pile of papers with dogged determination. At last, though, it moved the pile back towards the twins, straightening up and squaring its shoulders. "There you are. I will abide by your restrictions. Now, per favore - what news?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:43 pm
Invasive.
Riley's goals became crystal clear the moment Sinclaire uttered that word.
She fell very silent, and would not move, or act like she could move, until she was forced to. Until then, she just glared at the woman, without another question left to ask. She had all of the answers she needed in that one, single word.
And now, all she needed was time.
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Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:16 am
Behind Malodore, two cloaked figures approached. The larger one had a reptilian cast, while the other was quite petite. Vek grinned at the receptionists, "This the one?"
"Oh, it's a plague doctor! Maybe this was the doctor she meant!"
"But I thought she didn't say please?"
"Neither did Sinclaire when she said no visitors."
The two of them tsked and shook their head over the lack of manners in today's society, and then each placed a hand around the student's arm.
Prinny greeted it cheerfully, "You're coming with us! We probably won't lock you away forever!"
"Probably."
"I like your hat! Can I have it?"
Meanwhile, Sinclaire returned to her notes, little guessing what was now heading their way.
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Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 9:33 am
"Oh, it's a plague doctor! Maybe this was the doctor she meant!"
A wave of indescribable emotion washed over Malodore - she. Visitors. Oh, Jack, please, please- but no, it couldn't get its hopes up. It couldn't trust these people. Here, at least, a plague doctor's natural poker face was to Malodore's advantage; it was simple to conceal its feelings from them. "Buon giorno," it said to the new figures, bobbing its head politely. "Ah... thank you. I would prefer not being locked away forever, but I appreciate your... your kindness."
... Hat?
"Ah, this has sentimental value, my apologies. I would rather not give it away," Malodore added. It was quite certain that if it had a heartbeat, its pulse would be pounding right now; as it was, the terrified hope thrilling through it was an admirable replacement.
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Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:28 pm
..At least, that was the plan. She was going to remain stoic, silent, quiet, unmoving-
Riley perked and lifted her head, her eyes widening before thinning in confusion. She looked at Sinclaire for a while, trying to discern whether the feeling she got was coming from the woman's mind, or..
She tasted familiarity. Something known, something precious, something important. She furrowed her brow, confused and just a little frightened.
Something was coming? No.. someone. Someone important. She just.. couldn't remember who. Regardless, whoever it was, could be walking into a very dangerous situation - a trap, perhaps. Was that it? Was she being used as a lure? Was that her function in this dreadful place?
Riley sat up, as straight as she could despite the gnawing ache in her bones and muscles, and tried to move. She needed to be strong - to be ready to fight. If she was being used, she was going to be ready to make the best of it.
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Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 8:18 pm
The elevator was a rusted cage affair of chains and squealing metal, providing a charming ride with equally pleasant company. The two Boogeymen bookended the student, Vek a looming presence, Prinny a jittery, merrily offensive chatterbox.
"That's a shame! Maybe we'll lock you up, and then I can wear it to the festival!"
"Which festival?"
"All of them! I'll be the belle of the ball!"
"I thought you said a festival."
"Those too! Will you be my date Vek? I'll look sooooo pretty in my fancy hat!"
"Not my type."
The small fae threw itself against the wall of the cage, hand clutching its chest, "But why?! Why won't you love me?!"
"Not my type."
This went on for quite some time. It is at this moment, where one if forced to wonder if perhaps Red was better off not having to work in such a place, with creatures like this as companions. Eventually the elevator reach the proper floor, and opened up into a hallway that was a fun cross between dungeon and mad laboratory. The screams that echoed around failed to make clear just which it happened to be.
After that it didn't take long at all for them to find a certain door, and for Prinny to rap a little tune upon it.
Sinclaire, already frowning at the subject's restless behavior, so soon after waking, muttered a soft curse and then called out, "What is it?"
"We brought a doctor."
The succubus calmly placed the clipboard to the side and got up to answer the door. Her face expressionless, she glanced at Prinny, Vek, and then finally the so-called doctor. "I asked to be left alone with her for the rest of the day."
The door was cracked wide enough for the two students to each see the other.
"You didn't say please."
Sinclaire sighed, and then tried to give the young plague doctor a professional smile, "I'm sorry, I'm not sure what they told you, but at the moment I'm busy with something fairly delicate. You'll have to come back later."
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Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 10:22 pm
Malodore kept its face impassive as it was half-led, half-forced into a rattling cage of an elevator. "I'd rather not," it began as one of the Bogeymen asserted locking it up, and then realized that its own contributions were being roundly ignored. After a while, it allowed its mind to drift, the banter going mostly unnoticed. It was so hard to hope... and so hard not to.
But it had to know, one way or the other.
When the elevator came to a stop, Malodore closed its eyes, then opened them again as it was hustled forward. Despite its inner turmoil, it couldn't help but take a vague interest in its surroundings. It could see the trappings of scientific inquiry, and-
They stopped. Knocked. The door opened-
Malodore's gasp was audible, and its beak dropped open. For a moment, its vision blurred, but it didn't need to see to know. Though it seemed that it leaned forward only a little bit, every bit of empathic sense the plague doctor had leaped forward, straining for her. Mia cara! Riley, amore mio, sono io, il tuo Malodore! it cried out mentally-
-it was being addressed. With a vast effort, it forced itself to focus on something besides its mate. "I... mi dispiace, I was looking for... for her, for my Riley, I..." It trembled, unable to hide its emotions any longer, gaze flicking between the succubus and her mindflayer charge. "You... she is no longer stone, she... the Insanity... how?" It was a struggle to keep its voice from cracking everywhere, from breaking down into tears.
It took a deep breath. "Thank you," it managed, the phrase less proper words than a single exhalation as it fixed its gaze on Riley. "Please... please, if I could just... stay with her for a while, I... I promise not to disturb anything. I am a scientist, a doctor, I understand..."
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Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 10:48 pm
Riley was already sitting up when the door opened, and she felt her skin crawling with an anxious dread. Whatever was coming needed to run, now-
Her hands flew to her head and she let out a soft, audible hiss from her tentacles when the emotional thoughts came flying into her head. Nobody should be able to get into her head so easily! Who was this powerful creature, so deftly knowledgeable of her every mental thread, to slide into her so easily and call to her so intimately? What foe did she truly face in this wicked, awful place?
The barrage of emotional thought stopped, and she finally looked up at the plague doctor, eyes winced in dismay, and watched as it spoke to the technician working with her. She digested every word, very carefully.
Riley. My Riley. The robed, masked creature was referring to her; she had no doubt of it. And she was Riley. And she.. belonged to him? She did not belong to anyone, the absolute impertinence
And yet, his - her? Her voice was so gentle. So compassionate. And she could not deny how familiar her thoughts tasted.
Nor could she deny how she'd suddenly realized her heart had been racing a mile a minute from the moment she'd walked in through the door.
But in the end, Sinclaire was to decide whether she could speak with the doctor. The doctor. Il medico.
She remembered what she'd said before she passed out.
She remembered what the words meant.
She remembered that she spoke Italian. And so had the robed figure..
Malodore. She whispered into the plague doctor's mind. That was her name. Was it a her? This was getting annoying.
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